8 Janaury 2017

First Reading: Is 60,1-6: The glory of the Lord dawns upon youPsalm: 71All the kings of the earth will bow down to you, Lord.Second Reading: Eph 3: 2-3-3a.5-6: Now it has been revealed that the Gentiles also are joint heirsGospel: Mt 2: 1-12:We come from the East to worship the King

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, in Judea, during the days of King Herod, wise men from the East arrived in Jerusalem. They asked, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw the rising of his star in the East and have come to honor him.“

When Herod heard this he was greatly disturbed, and with him all Jerusalem. He immediately called a meeting of all high-ranking priests and teachers of the law, and asked them where the Messiah was to be born.

“In the town of Bethlehem in Judea,“ they told him, “for this is what the prophet wrote: And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, you are by no means the least among the clans of Judah, for from you will come a leader, one who is to shepherd my people Israel.“

Then Herod secretly called the wise men and asked them the precise time the star appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem with these instructions, “Go and get accurate information about the child. As soon as you have found him, report to me, so that I, too, may go and honor him.“

After the meeting with the king, they set out. The star that they had seen in the East went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. The wise men were overjoyed on seeing the star again. They went into the house, and when they saw the child with Mary his mother, they knelt and worshiped him. They opened their bags and offered him their gifts of gold, incense and myrrh.

In a dream they were warned not to go back to Herod, so they returned to their home country by another way.

Reflection:

Read: Isaiah speaks of how the light of the Lord transforms a community. Paul attests to the same in his personal life. But the dawn of the light of God darkens the life of Herod leading to his deformation.

Reflect: Our glory is a reflected glory. Paul understood it well. He knew that the graces he received came from God and were meant for others. Herod failed to realize this truth. He mistook his kingship and glory to be his own, and hence, he could not delight in the coming of God’s light and sought to extinguish it. How do you perceive and use the graces of God’s light given to you?

Pray: Lord, make me a mirror that reflects your light into the lives of others.

Act: Make use of one God-given gift of yours to bring God’s light into someone’s life.